Norris sets McLaren target as long F1 drought ends

Lando Norris believes the target for McLaren in the Hungarian Grand Prix is "obvious" after securing a front-row lockout - the team's first in 12 years.

Norris will start ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri on the front row - the first time it has been an all-McLaren affair since Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

It is also the first McLaren pole in Hungary since Hamilton in 2012, with Norris, who is looking to take the championship fight to Red Bull's Max Verstappen certain that the team must convert a second pole of the season into victory following a series of missed chances in recent races.

By not double-stacking during the dry-wet conditions at Silverstone last time out, McLaren cost Piastri a shot at the win, with Norris's chances being scuppered after he was put onto used soft tyres instead of fresh softs for the final stint that allowed Hamilton and Verstappen to finish ahead.

McLaren rejected claims of an “emergency” meeting in the aftermath of that race, but Norris feels nothing less than a second career win will be acceptable.

"We are in the best position for whatever the conditions throw at us, so I am looking forward to it," he explained. 

"With the two cars on the front row, we can control it from there, so as long as we stay where we are, we'll be happy.

"I'm expecting [to finish P1], so if I don't it has not been a good day.

"For now the car is doing well. I feel like I am driving well, so it is obvious what the aim is."

Norris on McLaren's hopes

Having navigated the tricky changing conditions through the qualifying session at the Hungaroring, Norris denied suggestions that the one-two would give the team a much-needed confidence boost, insisting it was already sky-high.

"I am very happy, it was not an easy qualifying with difficult conditions, but always ending on top is the best part of it," he said.

"For the team, a one-two is even better to see so it is progress as a team. 

"We already have confidence, so it is not like we need a lot more of it or that we are searching for it, and we've come into this weekend and the last few confident that we can do a good job and that we have a good car to fight for pole.

"That is exactly what we did today, so it is a great job by the team, and we've been improving every weekend. 

"To end up on pole today is sweet."